3 ms·
APU start/run, air data probe deploy, main-landing gear arm/down, drag chute arm/deploy, and fuel cell reactant valve closure were all landing steps that could
by mrpippy 2y ago
APU start/run, air data probe deploy, main-landing gear arm/down, drag chute arm/deploy, and fuel cell reactant valve closure were all landing steps that could only be performed manually. Post-Columbia, they developed a cable and software (RCO: Remote-Controlled Orbiter) to allow these to be triggered from ground controllers or flight software.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20070019347/downloads/20070019347.pdf https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20070019347/downloads/20...
- riehwvfbk 2y agoSo how did the Buran complete its uncrewed flight? Or would that be post-Challenger (which is what I assume you meant by post-Columbia)?
- mrpippy 2y agoNo, the Shuttle post-Columbia. The use case was that in case an orbiter sustained irreparable tile damage on launch, the crew would hole up in the ISS for weeks until a rescue Shuttle could be launched. But it was still worth seeing if the damaged orbiter could re-enter and land, so they developed the cable (stored at the ISS) and software to allow an unmanned orbiter to allow that. Obviously was never used.